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Microsoft Settles Online Gaming Patent Suit

Microsoft has settled a $90 million patent infringement suit recently brought against it by PalTalk holdings related to Halo and the Xbox 360's multiplayer features under undisclosed terms.

Leigh Alexander, Contributor

March 16, 2009

1 Min Read
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Microsoft has settled a $90 million patent infringement suit recently levied against it by PalTalk holdings, which alleged infringement related to Halo and the Xbox 360's multiplayer features. The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but according to Bloomberg, Microsoft called it an "amicable agreement," and attorney Max Tribble says PalTalk is "quite pleased with the outcome." New York-based PalTalk purchased two patents from MPath related to "controlling interactive applications over multiple computers." Microsoft had alleged the company only paid $200,000 for the patents. MPath is best known for the MPlayer PC gaming service, which was later sold to GameSpy. MPath was also responsible for VoIP (voice over internet protocol) and video conferencing service HearMe, which PalTalk still operates.

About the Author

Leigh Alexander

Contributor

Leigh Alexander is Editor At Large for Gamasutra and the site's former News Director. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety, Slate, Paste, Kill Screen, GamePro and numerous other publications. She also blogs regularly about gaming and internet culture at her Sexy Videogameland site. [NOTE: Edited 10/02/2014, this feature-linked bio was outdated.]

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